Robert Schuller ... the epitome of the wolf that Paul spoke about in Acts 20:29-30.

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them”.

In 1987 a survey was conducted by the National Association of Christian Psychotherapists and Counselors as to which television ministry is “the most effective in applying biblical principles to people's problems.” Robert Schuller's Hour of Power came out on top. James Dobson, president of the organization, commented: “He's not dogmatic. His message is clear and deals mainly with cognitive reconditioning. Yet he uses the Bible as his source. He comes across more as a therapist then a minister, yet his message is still very Christian in nature.” Dobson has used Schuller's endorsements in his ads (Calvary Contender, August 15, 1987). Let’s see how “Very Christian in Nature”, Schuller’s beliefs are..

Rethink Conference (Warren Smith)The level of ‘Christianity’ at these conferences is so low that one would have to search under the tables to a few odd specks…

Rethinking Revised (Roger Oakland)Speakers at The Rethink Conference held at Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral, January 17-19, 2008 insisted that Christianity must be re-thought and re-invented if the name of Jesus Christ is going to survive here on planet earth now that we are in the twenty-first century.

IntroductionRobert Schuller, pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, has a grandfatherly smile that stretches from ear to ear and an appealing manner.. a demeanor that invites trust, and since that seems to be more than enough criteria for many thousands of Christians, it is no wonder that he is ‘Christianity's’ number one TV preacher, watched by over 20 million people on hundreds of stations in more than 180 countries. It is equally unsurprising that he makes more than $50 million a year. Schuller’s Hour of Power weekly televised church service reaches …

“… an audience approaching 20 million people on all continents. It may be seen on approximately 185 stations across the United States and Canada, as well on cable and satellite channels around the world including the Discovery Channel, the Sky Channel, the Trinity Broadcast Network, and more. The Hour of Power has also been selected by the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Network to be broadcast to cities and bases in over 165 countries worldwide and to all ships at sea”. [2007. About The Hour Of Power In Canada. Crystal Cathedral’s Official Web Site. [1]

Wikipedia says that the Hour Of Power In Europe

“… is broadcast on CNBC Europe, VOX in Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and Sky One in the UK and Republic of Ireland; in the Middle East, it is carried on METV in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria; and in Australia on EXPO,Australian Christian Channel and the free to air commercial television channel, network 10. In Australia the programme is also broadcast weekly on radio.”

Additionally the American Academy of Achievement states that...

“Dr. Schuller is the author of over 30 books, six of which have found a place on the New York Times and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists”. [2]

He also helps train ministers from around the world (now that’s a scary thought).

In 1992, Dr. Schuller fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams with the opening of the Fuqua International School of Christian Communications, funded by the generous donation of Mr. J.B. Fuqua, of Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Schuller serves as Chancellor of the school , where ministers from all over the world hone their preaching skills. [3]

And last, but not least, not only does Robert Schuller parade an impressive line up of celebrity speakers at the Crystal Cathedral …

…but his latest conference “Rethink” held on January 17 – 19 2008 at the Crystal Cathedral, telecast by satellite around the world by Church Communication Network (CCN) and described as a new kind of conference experience, included co-host Erwin McManus, George Barna, Chuck Colson, George Foreman, George H. Bush, Dan Kimball, John and Nancy Ortberg, Rupert Murdoch, Kathy Ireland, Lee Strobel, Ben Stein, Ben Vereen, and Kay Warren on the speaker list. (Incidentally Robert Murdoch owns The Sun, The Sun, a UK based tabloid which has has been banned in public libraries because of its "excessive sexual content". Murdoch is generally known as a purveyor of newspaper sex, scandal and nudity. However he also owns Zondervan, the company that published Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life. Details)

All of the above only serves to emphasize [especially considering the size of his audience and the scope of his influence], that Robert Schuller is a dangerous man.. A very dangerous man. In fact, could he have seen into the future, Paul could very well have had Robert Schuller in mind when he warned

"I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things (The NIV says distort the truth), to draw away the disciples after them. "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. (Acts 29-31)

While there are plenty of reasons to not only consider Robert Schuller a heretic, but to question whether he is a Christian at all.. Apologetics Index and Way of Life said it perfectly…

“Sometimes referred to as "the evangelist without a gospel" Schuller says he believes everything in the Bible. That is not true. What he believes about the Bible is actually a redefined, twisted view of it. His repentance is not Bible repentance; his new birth is not Bible regeneration; his Hell, his Heaven, his Jesus, cross, his salvation is not that of the Bible. The man is an arch-heretic, a blasphemer. Known for his unorthodox and heretical, pseudo-Christian teachings. In Schuller's message, man, not Jesus, takes center stage. In violation of the Bible's teachings, and in a calculated departure from orthodox Christianity, Schuller is a religious pluralist. His views on this issue are considered heretical, because religious pluralism violates one of the central teachings of Christianity, namely that salvation is received only by accepting Jesus Christ.” [4].

Most of the above charges (and more) have been covered in the article below. However, in view of this very dangerous time, when evil is making deeper and deeper inroads into the so called church, Robert Schuller has, by promoting New Agers and their doctrines, done his part to lead the church further and further away from Biblical doctrine down some very dark paths,.

Robert Schuller and The New Age(For those of you who are not familiar with the New Age Agenda, I suggest reading New Age..An Overview)

Amazingly, New Age leader Neale Donald Walsch refers to Robert Schuller as an extraordinary minister on page 282 of his book The New Revelations: A Conversation with God. For that there has to be a very very good reason. As Warren Smith rightly says In Rethinking Robert Schuller [Emphasis Added]

“From my perspective as a former New Age follower, I believe that Robert Schuller’s mission has always been to “rethink” and “change” biblical Christianity into something “new”—as in New Age/New Spirituality.

“… in his latest book, Don’t Throw Away Tomorrow: Living God’s Dream for Your Life, Schuller eagerly writes about the virtue of compromise. In this book, that bears New Age leader Gerald Jampolsky’s endorsement on the back cover, Schuller states, “We need to learn the healing quality of wise compromise.” [p. 153] He further states, “Perhaps the only way to deal with contradictions is to combine them creatively and produce something new. That’s ingenious compromise.” [p. 157] Whether Schuller knows it or not, he just presented the recipe for a New World Religion.

Some of the biggest areas of concern are

His relationship with John Marks Templeton and his promotion of Templeton’sbook, Discovering The Laws of Life,

What is exceedingly important to note is that the last two books mentioned are channeled works.. that is they came directly from spirit guides.. otherwise known as demons..

Robert Schuller, A Course in Miracles and Gerald Jampolsky.A Course in Miracles has been one of the most popular ‘enlightenment’ books ever. In A Course in Miracles: Christian Glossed Hinduism For The Masses, the Christian Research Institute asks the question… What is it about A Course in Miracles that has made it so successful? Since

“In the past century a glut of spiritistic Bibles have been published to help usher in the anticipated New Age of occult enlightenment, but none have rivaled the popularity and influence achieved by the Course. It has sold 1.25 million sets and has been translated into French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Hebrew, and many other languages. 1900 study groups now exist in the United States and Europe…. In light of its sales, the number of its teachers, and its indirect influence through other mediums, a conservative estimate would be that at least five million people have been exposed to the Course teachings. Some mainline churches use it as part of their educational programs, since numerous Catholic and Protestant clergy have given it glowing endorsements. In fact, the Course specifically commends itself toward acceptance within the Christian church. Distinctively Christian terminology is used throughout”.

Additionally

“the Course is a masterpiece of spiritual strategy. It claims to be a revelation from Jesus Christ Himself, and it is intelligently organized and simply written. It appeals to personal pride and can become almost addicting emotionally”.

[Read CRI’s article A Course in Miracles: Christian Glossed Hinduism For The Masses and A Course In Miracles: A Biblical Evaluation HERE

“All in all, the Course is carefully designed for radically restructuring a persons perception against Christian faith and toward New Age occultism”.But has any of that stopped ‘Christian leader’ Robert Schuller? Sadly the answer is no! I guess there’s no reason to let a little channeling and occultism stand in the way of a successful career as a ‘possibilities’ teacher.

In the late 1980s Schuller's Crystal Cathedral church hosted workshops for A Course In Miracles, a blatantly New Age human-potential course. Only after much outcry from knowledgeable Christians did the Crystal Cathedral stop hosting the workshops. Yet over the years Schuller has continued to champion many New Age teachers and has even showcased some on his Hour of Power television program. One, psychiatrist Jerry Jampolsky, has been touted by Schuller as a "Peace Maker" as recently as 2003. In introducing Jampolsky to his congregation, Schuller claimed that Jampolsky had "found God." What he neglected to tell the people is that Jampolsky found "God" through A Course In Miracles, and that Jampolsky's book, Love is Letting Go of Fear, is completely based on the teachings of A Course In Miracles. It's not that Jampolsky's connection to A Course In Miracles was hidden. On the dedication page of his book he thanked the authors of A Course In Miracles and openly stated that his book was based on their work. [Albert James Dager. Review of Deceived on Purpose...The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Church by Warren Smith. [5].

On a 2004 [10/17/04] Hour of Power program, Schuller featured guest was New Age leader and A Course in Miracles advocate GeraldJampolsky, endorsing all of Jampolsky’s “fabulous” books, adding that Jampolsky’s latest book, Forgiveness, was available in the Crystal Cathedral bookstore. On his web site Schuller describes his relationship with Jampolsky..

“One of the many psychiatrists, with whom I have a very respected relationship, is Dr. Gerald Jampolsky. Jerry (which is the name he goes by)…” [Courage: Become A Peace Maker. Written By Robert H. Schuller. [6]

So who is Jampolsky and what is his particular brand of spirituality??

When Schuller endorsed Jampolsky’s books even, he left one thing out.. they are all completely based on the New Age teachings of A Course in Miraclesand that the foreword of Forgiveness was written by Neale Donald Walsch, who is not some obscure New Age leader, but a bestselling author highly regarded by his New Age peers. He also forgot to mention that Gerald Jampolsky also operates under the influence of a spirit guide.

“Jampolskys bestselling books, There Is a Rainbow Behind Every Cloud, Goodbye to Guilt, Out of Darkness into the Light, Love Is Letting Go of Fear, Teach Only Love, and Children as Teachers of Peacecondense basic themes of the Course. His Center for Attitudinal Healing was founded in 1975 under the direction of an inner voice, which instructed him to establish a center where the principles of the Course could be taught and demonstrated... The Course content also promotes occultism and spiritistic guidance, which is another characteristic goal of demonic revelations. As an example of the psychic guidance people have been led to accept through the Course, many people have received the author of the Course (Jesus) as their personal spirit guide in other words, a demon cleverly impersonating Jesus. In his Good-Bye to Guilt Releasing Fear through Forgiveness (New York: Bantam, 1985, Pgs. 62-64) Gerald Jampolsky confesses that ‘Jesus’ became his spirit guide and even possessed him in order to act and speak through him. [7]

“Don’t Throw Away Tomorrow is written with such passion, compassion and honesty that you are actually able to feel the inner linings of Robert H. Schuller’s heart. There is a spiritual energy based on faith and optimism in this book, with so many heart rending stories that will uplift the reader into a new spiritual dimension.”

“We need to learn the healing quality of wise compromise. ... Perhaps the only way to deal with contradictions is to combine them creatively and produce something new. That’s ingenious compromise.”

To repeat what has already been said.. there is a good reason that New age leaders think so highly of Robert Schuller.

Robert Schullerand Napoleon Hill:The book Success through a Positive Mental Attitude was authored by Clement Stoneand Napoleon Hill, of which Schuller says… [Emphasis Added]

“Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude is one of the ten books that has most impacted my faith and my philosophy. It is a premier book on one of the most important subjects a person can study. No person’s education is complete without the concepts you and Napoleon Hill articulated in it so wisely and so well.” [8]

The problem here is that Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude is another channeled book. Hill himself claimed that

“..“ an emissary came across the astral plane. In a voice that “sounded like chimes of great music,” this visitor from another dimension declared: “I come from the Great School of Masters. I am one of the Council of Thirty-Three who serve the Great School and its initiates on the physical plane.” Hill was informed that he had been “under the guidance of the Great School” for years and had been chosen by them to give the formula of success, the “Supreme Secret,” to the world: that “anything the human mind can believe, the human mind can achieve.”

So one of the ten books that “most impacted” Robert Schuller’s faith and philosophy came from spirit guides.. otherwise called demons.

Robert Schullerand W. Clement Stone:Schuller also had an on-going relationship with the co-author of Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, Clement Stone who founded Religious Heritage of America. While I do not know a great deal about RHA, I have read that it is an interfaith organization, which certainly seems true. In 1970 it presented an award called Clergyman of the Year to archbishop Archbishop Iakovos [called a “Major Ecumenical Force” by a 2005 N.Y. Times article] of the Greek Orthodox church, who spent nine years on the World Council of Churches. And In 1973, they gave Bill Bright a special award for his work with youth and In 1980 Seventh-day Adventist, George Vandeman, received the Religious Heritage of America Faith and Freedom Award for Television Religious Personality of the Year.

“--a gathering that was attended by former President Nixon and the Rev. Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral, as well as the business elite of Chicago. [9]

In his book Move Ahead with Possibility Thinking, Schuller says

“One of the greatest American success stories surrounds the life of W. Clement Stone. In his wonderful book Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude he tell how he became a millionaire using O.P.M - Other People’s Money.”

Stone also served on the National Board of the Robert Schuller Ministries [10] and according to Robert Schuller himself, was a key element behind the Crystal Cathedral. [All Emphasis Added]

“He’s probably the most positive-thinking person I ever knew,” the Rev. Robert Schuller, a 40-year friend who will speak at Stone’s funeral in Evanston on Friday, told The Times on Wednesday.

“He was also a great believer in possibilities, and was one of the first persons to believe in my dream of a Crystal Cathedral,” Schuller said. “Without his major seven-figure gift, this building would not be standing here today.” [11]

“He gave one million dollars to Rev. Dr. Robert Schuller to begin construction on the now world-famous Crystal Cathedral. When the church was completed, Rev. Schuller invited Stone to be first to speak as a lay person to those attending. Stone told the congregation: “You need to read Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude. I will get each of you a copy.” Later a truck delivered over 7,000 copies of this book co-written by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone. [The Last Interview with Financial Industry Legend: W. Clement Stone. The Register. Vol. 7 No. 8. August 2006. Official IARFC Publication.[International Association of Registered Financial Consultants [12]

Lets re-cap

Q. Who was the first person to speak at the completed Crystal Cathedral… a so called Christian church? A. Clement Stone of course..

Q. Was the first topic at this ‘church’ anything about God, Jesus Christ, man’s sin, the Gospel? A. Nope! It was about achieving success by a positive mental attitude.

Q. Were free Bibles given to the congregation?A. Nope! Each person received a free copy of the book.. Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude.

Robert Schuller and Norman Vincent PealeSchuller credits close friend and mentor Norman Vincent Peale [publisher of Guidepost magazine and author of the best selling Power of Positive Thinking] with fine tuning his own positive faith and laying the foundation for his own Possibility Thinking that was to come.

On 2/7/94, Christian News reported that during one of Robert Schuller’s broadcasts in January of ‘94, he teared up while talking about the death of Norman Vincent Peale, who had died on Christmas eve the month before. During this broadcast Schuller talked about how Peale had been his inspiration and mentor and how he had started the positive thinking movement. Schuller then said he had swallowed it: "Hook, line, and sinker."

Although the name Norman Vincent Peale is known to much of the world thanks to his best selling book The Power of Positive Thinking and the ever popular Guideposts magazine, it is unlikely that many people have really delved into Peale’s beliefs. The abbreviated version is…

Peale was a 33rd degree Mason who rejected the Christian doctrine of sin, the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, and justification by faith alone in the merits of Christ. Although he used Christian terminology and rhetoric, in a sense his theology had little to do with Christianity, because it had little to do with sin and redemption. Although he may never have heard of the fourth-century heresy called Pelagianism, he was a thorough Pelagian -- that is, someone who believes that human nature is essentially good and that human beings are saved by developing their inner potential.

In fact Peale’s entire theology came from occult sources.. He actually “credits his theology of positive thinking to Ernest Holmes, founder of New Age/Occultic Church of Religious Science”. [13]. More About Peale and Holmes]

And In an article entitled Norman Vincent Peale: Apostle Of Self-Esteem, Way of Life Literature states that

“He was powerfully influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson.Emerson was a Unitarian minister who fashioned a religious philosophy that attempted to synthesize pagan religions such as Hinduism, Confucianism, and Zoroastrianism, with Christianity. He held to such heresies and pagan doctrines as the fatherhood of God, the divinity of man, the unity of religions, and man is one with God and has no need of an atonement. [More About Emerson]

“... he was guided by his professor of English literature, William E. Smyser, to works by Emerson and the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius for a sympathetic unfolding of the power of the individual mind. ... Peale’s discovery of James and EMERSON, and to a lesser extent Marcus Aurelius, acquired in the atmosphere of romantic idealism that seemed to flourish on the Methodist campus, EVENTUALLY BECAME PART OF HIS MENTAL EQUIPMENT AND THEN A LIFETIME FASCINATION. He would soon encounter the EMERSON OF TRANSCENDENTALISM again in seminary as a shaping force in liberal theology. ...”

Way of Life Literature further demonstrates Peale’s beliefs that

“Man, allegedly, has the power within himself, or the ability to tap into a higher power within himself, to accomplish whatever he desires by learning how to visualize it into reality”.

In his 1987 book Positive Imaging, Peale said:

“Imaging consists of vividly picturing in your conscious mind, a desired goal or objective, and holding that image until it sinks into your unconscious mind, where IT RELEASES GREAT, UNTAPPED ENERGIES” (p. 7).

“There is a powerful and mysterious force in human nature that is capable of bringing about dramatic improvement in our lives. It is a kind of mental engineering... So powerful is the imaging effect on thought and performance that a long-held visualization of an objective or goal can become determinative. ...In imaging, one does not merely think about a hoped-for goal; one ‘sees’ or visualizes it with tremendous intensity, reinforced by prayer. Imaging is a kind of LASER BEAM OF THE IMAGINATION, A SHAFT OF MENTAL ENERGY in which the desired goal of outcome is pictured so vividly by the conscious mind that the unconscious mind accepts it and is activated by it. THIS RELEASES POWERFUL INTERNAL FORCES that can bring about astonishing changes...” (pp. 9, 10). [Norman Vincent Peale: Apostle Of Self-Esteem, David Cloud]

Sound familiar? [Also See articles on New Thought andVisualization]. Peale also said

The world you live in is mental and not physical. Change your thought and you change everything. [14]

Your unconscious mind [has a] power that turns wishes into realities when the wishes are strong enough. [15]

Who is God? Some theological being...? God is energy. As you breathe God in, as you visualize His energy, you will be reenergized! [16].

Norman Vincent Peale and Ernest HolmesFurther confessing his indebtedness to Science of Mind founder Ernest Holmes, he wrote on the back cover of Ernest Holmes: His Life and Times:

"Only those who knew me as a boy can fully appreciate what Ernest Holmes did for me. Why, he made me a positive thinker."

Also saying on the Back Cover of Science of Mind, sometimes known as one of the greatest New Thought books ever written

”I believe God was in this man, Ernest Holmes. He was in tune with the Infinite.”

Holmes, by the way, took his inspirations and information from a variety of sources including Quimby, Darwin, Emerson, Freud, and Mary Baker Eddy, but, according to his brother… when he read the essay Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson a spark leaped into flames.

[See The Roots of Evil which charts the roots of many of the beliefs prevalent today ]

Norman Vincent Peale and Dr. Bernie SiegelIn Dr. Bernie Siegel's book, Love, Medicine, and Miracles, Peale writes, "In these pages is found a precious secret, that of health and well being" (inside cover).

[In the book Siegel describes how he got his message and insights through guided meditation and an inner spirit guide (p. 18-20). Siegel also promotes meditation, hypnosis, and guided visualization with eastern/Occultic presuppositions based on "cosmic-at-oneness and enlightenment," Yoga and Kundalini, and Silva Mind Control (pgs. 147-152). Siegel also teaches that through continuous "spiritual consciousness" death no longer exists and that he has "received many messages from those who have died," (p. 220). Siegel concludes with instructions on how to meditate and visualize cosmic-at-oneness energy healing you. He also lists a whole spate of New Age writers and books for suggested reading (pp. 227-239).

Apparently this is a mutual admiration society with Bernie Siegel endorsing Robert Schuller’s 1995 book Prayer: My Soul’s Adventure With God. On the opening page he says …

"This is a beautiful book of value to all people…. Robert Schuller’s newest book reaches beyond religion and information to what we all need—spirituality, inspiration, and understanding. Read it and live a life with meaning.". So who is Bernie Siegel?

Bernie Siegel Excerpt from Deceived on Purpose.. The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Church. Chapter 5 - Enter Robert Schuller. by Warren Smith

“In June of 1978, a Connecticut physician named Bernie Siegel attended a workshop that would completely change his life, including the way he practiced medicine. As a result of a spiritual experience in this workshop—a guided visualization— he would eventually become a bestselling author and New Age leader. In his book Love, Medicine & Miracles, he describes this guided visualization:

"In June 1978, my practice of medicine changed as a result of an unexpected experience I had at a teaching seminar. Oncologist O. Carl Simonton and psychologist Stephanie Matthews (then his wife) gave a workshop—Psychological Factors, Stress, and Cancer—at the Elmcrest Institute in Portland, Connecticut…." [P. 18].

"The Simontons taught us how to meditate. At one point they led us in a directed meditation to find and meet an inner guide. I approached this exercise with all the skepticism one expects from a mechanistic doctor. Still, I sat down, closed my eyes, and followed directions. I didn’t believe it would work, but if it did I expected to see Jesus or Moses. Who else would dare appear inside a surgeon’s head? Instead I met George, a bearded, long-haired young man wearing an immaculate flowing white gown and a skullcap. It was an incredible awakening for me, because I hadn’t expected anything to happen….

"George was spontaneous, aware of my feelings, and an excellent adviser. He gave me honest answers, some of which I didn’t like at first….

"All I know is that he has been my invaluable companion ever since his first appearance. My life is much easier now, because he does the hard work. [P. 19-20].

Since that initial spiritual encounter, Siegel has become a leading New Age author and spokesperson. Providing “hope” by fusing modern day medicine with New Age teachings and practices, Siegel has introduced New Age concepts into the professional medical community and to cancer patients everywhere. [More About Siegel]

In Friendship with God, Neale Donald Walsch writes thatBernie Siegel was the “first celebrity endorsement” he received for his first book Conversations with God: Book 1. Walsch said that

“it helped book buyers, who might have been skittish about a previously unpublished author, see the value of what I had produced.” [Walsch, Friendship with God, p. 335–336]

Today, Siegel continues to influence countless numbers of people in his role as a New Age leader. In his books and workshops he encourages people to do guided meditations and visualizations—just as he once did—to initiate contact with their own personal spirit guides. Siegel openly endorses the teachings of A Course in Miracles, and currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Jerry Jampolsky’s A Course in Miracles-based Attitudinal Healing Center in Northern California.

Norman Vincent Peale and Unity Teacher Eric Butterworth Butterworth is one of the chief leaders and writers for Unity School of Christianity. Butterworth, in his writings, clearly teaches New Age/Occultic world views. Of Eric Butterworth’s book Discover The Power Within You, Peale wrote

"Truly a life changer as many readers know. This book really does release the power within us all".

And of Butterworth’s book Life is for Loving Peale said

"Thought-motivating and spiritually rewarding,"

Eric Butterworth(1916-2003) Popular "Unity" Minister, Butterworth began training for the ministry at Unity Village in Missouri during World War II and after the war, graduated from Unity Ministerial School. Butterworth was author of 16 best-selling books on metaphysical spirituality, including the bestseller Discover the Power Within You, written in 1968 and considered a classic in the New Thought Spiritual Movement.

“Eric Butterworth was among the leading spokespersons in modern times on "practical mysticism."… a gifted theologian, philosopher, and lecturer, and for over 50 years a teacher of "practical Christianity," helping thousands of people to help themselves to a more abundant life by the study and application of Truth. He possessed a unique ability to render the most complex metaphysical teachings in simple sound bytes of awareness. He mastered the art of the brief "essayette," of which he has written thousands..” [17]

Eric Butterworth was Senior Minister of The Unity Center of New York City from 1961 to 2003… Eric was considered a legend and spiritual icon in the Unity Movement… [he] has often been referred to as a "Twentieth Century Emerson." His teaching was focused on the Divinity of all people, and his desire was that everyone would know their Oneness with God… a pioneer radio broadcaster, he began his daily messages, which at times went around the world, with the words: "You can change your life by altering your thoughts."… Oprah Winfrey says of his classic book, Discover the Power Within You, “This book changed my perspective on life and religion.” And, it is a favorite in her personal library. [18] [More About Butterworth and Oprah Winfrey]

Norman Vincent Peale and Metaphysician Florence ShinnPeale endorsed The Game of Life by metaphysician Florence Shinn, saying, "The Game of Life is filled with wisdom and creative insights. That its teachings will work I know to be a fact, for I've long used them myself."

What are these teachings? "Jesus Christ knew in reality, there is no evil There is an old legend that Adam and Eve ate of `Maya the Tree of Illusion' Therefore evil is a false law man has made for himself... has been hypnotized by the race belief (of sin, sickness, and death) which is carnal or mortal thought," (p. 30.)

" Jesus Christ brought the good news (the gospel) that there was a higher law than the law of Karma. The world thought is that of sin, sickness and death. He saw their absolute unreality. We know now from a scientific standpoint, that death could be overcome by stamping the subconscious mind with the conviction of eternal youth and eternal life. Working under the direction of the superconscious, (the Christ or God within man) the `resurrection of the body' would be accomplished," (pp. 46-47).

On Page 83 the author teaches the law of reincarnation. [19]

Norman Vincent Peale and The Jesus Letters by Jane Palzere and Anna BrownPeale endorses the book The Jesus Letters by Jane Palzere and Anna Brown. He writes "What a wonderful gift to all of us from you is your book. You will bless many by this truly inspired book," (emphasis mine).

According to the advertisement, "a book communicated through a process known as inspirational writing (automatic writing). Self identified as Jesus." Some quotes are given from the book, “God does not see evil. He sees only souls at different levels of awareness. It matters little if these writings come from the Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus of Jane, they are all the same consciousness and that consciousness is God. I am part of God, and Jane and Anna are part of that same God.” [20]

Robert Schuller and Paul Yonngi ChoCho has long been a promoter of visualization along with prayer so it is not surprising to see Schuller write the foreword to Yonggi Cho's book, The Fourth Dimension. He writes

"I discovered the reality of that dynamic dimension in prayer that comes through visualizing..... Don't try to understand it. Just start to enjoy it! It's true. It works. I tried it" (The Fourth Dimension, Foreword).

Robert Schuller and Richard Foster:In an article entitledLiving the Lord's Prayer, William Gaultiere, Ph.D, (Executive Director of the New Hope Crisis Counseling Center at the Crystal Cathedral and a Clinical Psychologist and Spiritual Director with ChristianSoulCare.com.) says he loves

“the way Richard Foster describes the heart of prayer in his book, Prayer. He gives us a beautiful picture”. He quoted Foster several times in the article, Dallas Willard once, and also says that one of his “favorite books is a little book called Practicing the Presence of God, which was written by Brother Lawrence four centuries ago”. [21]

Robert Schuller and Transcendental Meditation:The most effective mantras employ the "M" sound. You can get the feel of it by repeating the words, "I am, I am," many times over.... Transcendental Meditation or TM... is not a religion nor is it necessarily anti-Christian. [22]

SummaryIn his booklet, The Power of the Inner Eye, Robert Schuller gives us a resounding example how he drew on and learned from the teachings of his mentors and friends, Napoleon Hill, Clement Stone and Norman Vincent Peale…

“In the May, 1985, issue of Psychology Today…. "In the Mind's Eye." [It] deals with . . . visualization .... This is the vision that the Bible is talking about in the verse, "Where there is no vision the people perish.". . . I have practiced and harnessed the power of the inner eye and it works .... Thirty years ago we started with a vision of a church. It's all come true” (23].

Robert SchullerandSir John Marks TempletonJohn Marks Templeton is founder of The Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. Templeton's beliefs are clearly expressed in his writings. He is an evolutionist, pantheist, universalist, and occultist and in no unequivocal terms rejects the God of the Bible, Christ as the only Savior and only way to God. He claims that heaven and hell are states of mind we create here on earth, that truth is relative, and that Christianity is no longer relevant. He states “behind this book is my belief that the basic principles for leading a "sublime life"... may be derived from any religious tradition Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and others as well as Christian....” [24]

In 1986 John Marks Templeton and his New Age views were first introduced to the church by Robert Schuller. In that year Schuller’s Possibilities Magazine front cover prominently featured Templeton's picture. In it he wrote, “The Christ spirit dwells in every human being whether the person knows it or not…” [25].

Christianity Today’s April 24, 1994 issue introduced Templeton’s book, Discovering The Laws of Life to a Christian audience. The advertisement, was headlined “Will inspire Millions of Readers” and was assigned the entire back cover. It contained the endorsements of Norman Vincent Peale (who also wrote the foreword), Robert Schuller, Billy Graham, and two prominent Catholic New Age leaders, Theodore M. Hesburgh (former president of Notre Dame University) arid J. Peter Grace (head of the Knights of Malta). [A.P. Geelhoed. Who is Templeton?].SeeMore on TempletonAlso Rick Warren and The Templeton Foundation

Additional Information on Robert SchullerPlease Note: Each coloured link within the articles will lead you to a related topic on a different page of this site. However, while the text is part of the original articles, the links are not. The authors of these articles may or may not agree with the views expressed on those pages, or anything else on this site..

[Background] Born in 1926 to an Iowan family of Dutch descent, Robert Schuller was reared in the Reformed Church in America. He entered the pastorate in 1951 at Hope Church in Chicago, which over the next four years grew from 38 to 400 members. In 1955, his denomination sent him to Orange County, California to establish a new church there. After trying unsuccessfully to rent numerous facilities, Schuller finally rented the Orange County Drive-In Theater for Sunday mornings. Schuller went from door to door inviting people to come to his church, and asking them what type of church they would like to attend. He began to see his church as a mission, a place where non-Christians would feel comfortable enough to come in and then later "accept Jesus." How would he do this? By preaching only positive things! Schuller credits close friend Norman Vincent Peale "with fine tuning his own positive faith and laying the foundation for his own Possibility Thinking that was to come."

[Influence] In September of 1959, ground-breaking ceremonies were held at the location of the present church property in Garden Grove, California. The Crystal Cathedral was completed in 1980, from which Schuller now tapes his weekly service and later broadcasts on his weekly "Hour of Power" television show (begun in 1970). This cathedral is a vast golden edifice with 10,000 windows, huge video screens, and a 10-foot tall angel hovering from the roof on a rope of gold. He has built up a congregation of over 9,500 members in a church that cost over $20 million.

The "Tower of Power" television ministry makes more than $50 million a year and is beamed to about 20 million viewers in more than 180 countries. Schuller claims to receive between thirty and forty thousand letters a week and has a mailing list of over one million people. He has authored more than 25 books, several of them national best sellers. [26]

[Schuller and Self Esteem] Schuller's false teaching is an extremely serious matter in light of his wide influence. His is the most popular religion television broadcast in America. His books sell by the millions. He appears with presidents. His "self-esteem Christianity" has been adopted by multitudes. These believe they are Christians and attend churches; but in reality, they worship a false christ and follow a false gospel. Robert Schuller and his mentor, the late Norman Vincent Peale, are two of the key culprits in promoting this error. See Article on Self Esteem

Schuller reinterprets the doctrines of the Word of God to conform with his self-esteem philosophy. His Christ is a Jesus who provides men with self-esteem. Schuller's gospel is the replacement of negative self concepts with positive ones. To Schuller, sin is merely the lack of self-esteem. To Schuller, the greatest evil is to call men sinners in a Biblical fashion and thereby injure their self-esteem. Schuller is a universalist who believes that all people are the children of God. His goal is to help each person understand and enjoy this "fact." Bottom line, Schuller's message is that there is no need for one to recognize his own personal sin, no need for repentance, and no need for the crucifixion of self. In fact, concerning the latter point, Schuller teaches just the opposite philosophy -- that self is to be exalted -- which is nothing less than an outright denial of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

(a) Personal Sin?: "What do I mean by sin? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of his children of their right to divine dignity. I could offer another complementing answer: Sin is that deep lack of trust that separates me from God and leaves me with a sense of shame and unworthiness. I can offer still another answer: Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem" (Self-Esteem: The New Reformation, p. 14). In a 10/5/84 letter to Christianity Today, Schuller wrote, "I don't think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and hence counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition" (cf. Romans 1:18-3:20).

(c) Denial of Self?: One of Schuller's books, Self-Love: The Dynamic Force of Success, took Eric Fromm's humanistic self-love teachings and brought them into the church. In Self-Esteem: The New Reformation (Word Books, 1982), Schuller teaches that: (1) the church's problem is that it has had a God-centered theology for centuries, when it needs a man-centered one; (2) we're not bad, merely badly informed about how good we are; (3) it would be an insult to the integrity of any human being to call him a sinner; and (4) "Jesus knew His worth; His success fed His self-esteem. He suffered the cross to sanctify His self-esteem and He bore the cross to sanctify your self-esteem. The cross will sanctify the ego trip" (p. 115) (cf. Matt. 16:24). (See attached reports for more analysis and quotes from Self-Esteem: The New Reformation) [Schuller further amplified this latter thought on the 8/12/80 Phil Donahue Show; Schuller said, "Jesus had an ego. He said, 'I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.' Wow, what an ego trip He was on!"]

The following are highlights from an 11/92 radio interview with Robert Schuller; it provides a good snapshot summary of Schuller's perverted gospel of self:

QUESTIONER: Dr. Schuller, did you write "The unsaved person cannot perceive himself as worthy of divine grace and hence rejects it."?

SCHULLER: I may have said that because I am inclined to believe very definitely that the person who is lost and unsaved is afraid of the light. The person who is only used to darkness is afraid of the light and I think unsaved people do not consider themselves worthy enough; I think that's absolutely true, "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

QUESTIONER: But not while we were "worthy" Christ died for us?

SCHULLER: Listen, if Christ had died for somebody who wasn't worth anything that would have been a lousy deal. God is a good steward and he teaches us to be good stewards. God knows the worst sinner is worth saving so that he would die on a cross for us.

QUESTIONER: But if we are worth it, then it is not grace, it's merit.

SCHULLER: No, no. It means that we are still creatures of God, we are still sons of God. We have value. We still have value.

QUESTIONER: Would you be willing to address your congregation as a group as sinners?

SCHULLER: No I don't think I need to do that. ... My only concern is: I don't want to drive them farther away than they are! ... I do let people know how great their sins and miseries are. How do I do that? I don't do that by standing in a pulpit and telling them they're sinners. ... The way I do it is ask questions. Are you happy? Do you have problems, what are they? So then I come across as somebody who cares about them ... So the way I preach sin is by calling to attention what it does to them here and now, and their need for divine grace! ... I believe in heaven. I believe in hell. But I don't know what happens there. I don't take it literally that it's a fire that never stops burning.

QUESTIONER: As Jesus said it was?

SCHULLER: Jesus was not literal.

QUESTIONER: Justified from what? The wrath of God?

SCHULLER: Oh! I'll never use that language.

QUESTIONER: But the Bible does.

SCHULLER: Yes, the Bible does, but the Bible is ... a contradiction: Old Testament -- Law, New Testament -- Grace. Jesus is a contradiction; totally human and totally God.

QUESTIONER: Of course we would say that the dual nature of Christ is a "mystery" but not a contradiction.

SCHULLER: It is a contradiction, but you know what? Contradictions are ultimate points of creativity...

QUESTIONER: How could the cross, as you write, "sanctify the ego trip," and make us proud, in the light of passages that say, "I hate pride and arrogance (Prov. 8:13), "Pride goes before destruction" (Prov. 16:18),"The Lord detests all the proud" (Prov. 16:5), "Do not be proud" (Rom. 12:16), "Love does not boast, it is not proud" (1 Cor. 13:4). In fact Paul warns Timothy that in the last days men "will be lovers of themselves" (2 Tim. 3:2). ... Why should we do anything to encourage people to become "lovers of themselves" if Paul in fact warned others that that would be the state of godlessness in the last days?

SCHULLER: I hope you don't [preach this] because you could do a lot of damage to a lot of beautiful people. ... if you preach that text, oh man, I sure hope you give it the kind of interpretation that I do or, I'll tell you, you'll drive them farther away and they'll be madder than hell at you and they'll turn the Bible off, and they'll switch you off, and they'll turn on the rock music and Madonna. Just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean you should preach it. ... it is so difficult to preach some of those texts and not come across as lacking humility ...

QUESTIONER: Dr. Schuller, what do we tell someone who says, "I'm already happy and fulfilled, so why do I need the gospel?"

SCHULLER: I don't know ... I can't relate to that.

QUESTIONER: Ought we to pray, "Our father in heaven, honorable is our name"?

SCHULLER: (Silence)

QUESTIONER: That's a legitimate question?

SCHULLER: It may be a legitimate question but I think it's kind of a dumb question because I don't teach that. Ask someone who teaches it.

QUESTIONER: Well you wrote it on page 69 of Self-Esteem: The New Reformation.

SCHULLER: You know what, I'm tired now. You're laying so many heavy trips on me, and I wasn't prepared for this.

Since Schuller will not preach from the pulpit the gospel of repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ, nor teach from the Bible, what then is the message he propagates? Los Angeles Times staff writer Bella Stumbo, after an extended interview with Schuller, wrote: "In short, Robert Schuller believes that God placed him on this Earth to preach possibility thinking" [27]. To underscore just how "vitally important" this message is, Schuller once wrote: "I believe in positive thinking. It is almost as important as the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (28).

Schuller's "possibility thinking" replaces truth. It doesn't matter what or whom one believes, but only that one be positive. He argues that Biblical doctrine may have communicated to people in the past, but to our generation it seems so "negative" and offensive that it turns people off. So what is needed now is a "positive" gospel that everyone can accept. In an article in The Orange County Register, Schuller berated preachers "who spew forth their angry, hate-filled sermons of fire and brimstone." Explaining that the way to "tell the good religion from the bad religion" is whether it is "positive," Schuller exhorted "religious leaders ... whatever their theology ... to articulate their faith in positive terms." He then called for a "massive, united effort by leaders of all religions" to proclaim "the positive power ... of world-community-building religious values." (Emphases added.)

For Schuller, then, "faith" is a power of the mind and "God" is merely a placebo that helps one "believe" and thereby activate mind power. For example, on an Amway tape, Schuller exults, "You don't know the power you have within you! ... You make the world into anything you choose." It is Babel again, only in a more sophisticated form. The power of thinking becomes the magic stairway that leads to the paradise where all one's wishes can be fulfilled -- nothing but an "evangelical" form of Christian Science or Science of Mind! (6/93, The Berean Call).

For one who doesn't use the Bible much, it shouldn't surprise us when we hear how Schuller has distorted it, usually in order to justify his theological positions. For instance, what does Schuller say Jesus really meant when He taught His disciples to pray for their "daily bread" (Matt. 6:11)?

"'Give us our daily bread.' What does the word bread mean? Bread refers to life's basic needs. God doesn't promise that we will have the crust. ... What is the crust that God offers? We call it possibility thinking. 'Give us this day our daily bread.' God will give us what we need. And what is that? It is creative, inspiring, possibility-pregnant ideas" (29).

Schuller is guilty of even more blatant distortion when he equates the "rivers of living water" that Jesus referred to in John 7:38 with self-esteem:

"And I can feel the self-esteem rising all around me and within me, 'Rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me' (John 7:38, TLB). I'll really feel good about myself" (30).

The prime focus of Schuller's ministry continues today to be the self-esteem of the individual. This was reflected in most of his earlier books, but was never specifically formulated until 1982, when he wrote SELF-ESTEEM: THE NEW REFORMATION. Schuller believes that virtually every problem a person has, every ill that plagues society, all sin and evil in the world, is a result of people having low self-esteem. Therefore, our greatest need is to have our self-esteem increased:

"Self-esteem then, or 'pride in being a human being,' is the single greatest need facing the human race today. ... I strongly suggest that self-love is the ultimate will of man -- that what you really want more than anything else in the world is the awareness that you are a worthy person. ... Do not fear pride: the easiest job God has is to humble us. God's almost impossible task is to keep us believing every hour of every day how great we are as his sons and daughters on planet earth."

So, why didn't the early Church preach a theology of self-esteem? They were virtually surrounded by non-believers, people whose greatest need, according to Schuller, was to have their self-esteem lifted. However, the early Church followed the example of Paul, and preached "Christ and Him crucified," not any gospel of self-esteem (e.g., 1 Cor. 2:2; 1:18,23; Rom. 3:10-18). We find no examples in the preaching of the apostles that man's basic problem was a low self-esteem. Instead we find that it is a need for forgiveness of his sins.]

It's doubtful that Schuller even knows what the gospel is. Schuller says:

"Is there any possibility of a person being, quote -- saved -- unquote, without accepting Jesus Christ in a way evangelicals preach it today? My answer is, I don't know. That's the honest to God truth. But I believe in the sovereignty of God and the sovereignty of Jesus Christ. I hope so. Is it possible to be saved without making public repentance? I think so. On the cross, Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.' He didn't say, 'Father, forgive them because they repented.' Jesus has a different theology of salvation than most preachers." (Reported in O Timothy.)

Robert Schuller has proudly said:

"...what sets me apart from fundamentalists [is that they] are trying to convert everybody to believe how they believe. ... We know the things the major faiths can agree on. We try to focus on those without offending those with different view-points. ..."

With the "opening" of the Iron Curtain, Schuller was invited to appear on Soviet television. Schuller said regarding this opportunity:

"In 15 minutes, the only thing I could try to accomplish was to increase their perception of a personal and positive God."

Similarly, the 9/29/90 edition of the Houston Chronicle reported the following:

"Of all the big-name Protestant ministers moving behind what used to be the Iron Curtain, the Rev. Robert Schuller ... might prove to be the most palatable. With the diplomatic help of industrialist Armand Hammer, a long-time friend of the Soviets, Schuller delivered upbeat messages twice on Soviet television in recent months and hopes to begin a monthly television program before the end of the year. As he does in this country, Schuller indicated he would talk mainly to nonbelievers, emphasizing a self-esteem message not heavily laden with 'Jesus talk' ..." (Emphases added.)

[Schuller and the New Age] Proof of Schuller's promotion of New Age teachings and teachers is his article in the Summer 1986 issue of Possibilities magazine. As well as the central message being that 'all is God and God is all,' the article also declared that,

"The Christ Spirit dwells in every human being, whether the person knows it or not" (p. 12).

In the past, Schuller has also given his Hour of Power pulpit to a long list of New Agers, cultists, and occultists, ranging from Gerald Jampolsky (who uses A Course in Miracles, dictated by a demon posing as Jesus), to influential Mormon leader, Jack Anderson. (Reported in the 1/88 and 2/88 issues of the CIB Bulletin.) Schuller has even commended all forms of Eastern meditation such as TM, Zen Buddhism, and yoga as valid methods for "the harnessing, by human means, of God's divine laws. ..." [See Above for Details]

[Schuller and Unity] Schuller has also addressed Unity ministers in Kansas City, not only stating that he agreed with their teachings (which, among other things, reject the gospel of Christ, and teach Yoga, reincarnation, and other New Age philosophies), but he also commended Unity and offered his success techniques to help Unity grow larger. In an address to a Unity congregation in Warren, Michigan, Schuller's motivational talk presented Jesus as "the greatest Possibility Thinker of all time!" (Reported in the 1/88 issue of the CIB Bulletin.) [See Unity School of Christianity]

The following is not part of the original article but an excerpt from Apologetics Index..

Robert Schuller was addressing a group of Unity ministers and ministers in training, at the Unity School of Christianity (a Mind-science cult).

"Schuller was asked, 'Dr. Schuller, we hear a lot of talk these days about the New Age, the Age of Aquarius, the type of New Age thinking that we are involved in with Holistic healing and various other things that are part of what is called the New Age. Will you describe the role of what you might consider the New Age minister in the '80s and beyond?'"

"Schuller replied, 'Well, I think it depends upon where you're working. I believe that the responsibility in this Age is to 'positivize' religion. Now this probably doesn't have much bearing to you people, being Unity people, you're positive. But I talk a great deal to groups that are not positive... even to what we would call Fundamentalists who deal constantly with words like sin, salvation, repentance, guilt, that sort of thing.'"

"So when I'm dealing with these people... what we have to do is positivize the words that have classically only had a negative interpretation." [from an address at Unity Village, Unity tape]

[Schuller and Catholicism] Schuller has sympathized with Catholicism in the past. In 1972, Schuller "invited Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen to his pulpit and joined with Catholic bishops at their Mass at the Annual Mary's Hour at the Los Angeles Sports Arena" (David Beale, S.B.C. House on the Sand, p. 144). During the Pope's visit to Los Angeles in 1987, Schuller "played the papal hoopla on [his church's] giant-sized screen for people to come watch." Schuller said: "It's time for Protestants to go to the shepherd [Pope] and say 'what do we have to do to come home?'" (11/15/87, Calvary Contender). When Schuller was planning for the building of his Crystal Cathedral, he made a special trip to Rome to ask the Pope's blessing on the building plans (Foundation, March-April 1990).

In 1985, the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association and Tyndale House Publishers jointly published What Christians Can Learn from One Another about Evangelizing Adults, which contained a chapter by Billy Graham. The book called for greater cooperation between Protestants and Catholics in so-called evangelism, and also included articles by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Robert Schuller, Bill Bright, Jack Wyrtzen, and others (Flirting With Rome, p. 31).

Those who still believe Schuller is an evangelical should consider the fact that the Roman Catholic Cardinal for Los Angeles, Roger Mahony, was Schuller's honored guest at his church and on his television program on 3/22/92. The content of Dr. Schuller's messages and those of most of his pulpit guests should make it clear that his ministry is leading people away from the truth of the Gospel. (Foundation, July-August 1992)

Schuller also frequently speaks at conferences with Roman Catholic priests and bishops. He spoke at the "Washington for Jesus" rally on 4/28/80, with priests John Bertolucci, John Randall, and Michael Scanlon. In 10/87, Schuller spoke at a Roman Catholic conference called the Jesus Day VII, in Chicago. Catholic priests Matthew Fox, John Powell, and Richard McBrien also spoke (National & International Religion Report, 9/21/87). In 8/88, Schuller participated in the ecumenical Congress '88 in Chicago. The Archbishop of Chicago at the time, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, brought the opening address of the Congress, and was introduced as a "warm, caring, Christ-honoring, Christ-like brother" (31).

Schuller joined David Yonggi Cho in Sicily for the country's first Church Growth Conference in March 1998, visiting Pope John Paul II en route to the conference. The May 1998 issue of Powerlines, Schuller's monthly newsletter, highlights his church growth conference with Cho and his meeting with Pope John Paul II in Rome. According to the newsletter, "it was the fourth time Dr. Schuller and the Pope had met, hand-to-hand, heart-to-heart at the Vatican." The article also added a brief note concerning the discussion between the Pope and Schuller: "When the Schullers met Pope John Paul II in March, the Pope expressed interest in how our churches could work together to take part in the Vatican's preparations for the Jubilee celebrations of Christianity's third millennium in the year 2000." Pope John Paul II also blessed Mrs. Schuller, an act which Robert Schuller said may have caused his wife to be healed five days later when Mrs. Schuller suffered a mild heart attack. "How could Arvella help but be healed when the Crystal Cathedral Congregation is praying for her, and after she had received private blessings from the Pope and a special visit from the pastor of the largest Protestant church in the world, David Yonggi Cho," Schuller said. Both the Pope and David Yonggi Cho are leading millions of people astray by the false doctrines they propagate, and Schuller is perfectly comfortable commending these men as servants of God! (32)

As one of 16 writers who responded to Pope John Paul's Crossing of the Threshold of Hope book, in a new book, A Reader's Companion to Crossing the Threshold of Hope, Robert Schuller said (p. 163):

"God has promised salvation to all of us. But only when we realize that we have been saved and we accept God's love do we open ourselves to Jesus Christ ..."

He speaks of experiencing "the Christ within" us, and "innermost potential." He said "meaning" lies in a God who is committed to our happiness, and that belief in God helps us become possibility thinkers. Schuller said: "When we know we have been redeemed and we know we are part of God's family, we are ready to dream that great divine dream of building the kingdom of God in the world." (Source: 5/97, Sword and Trumpet.)

[Schuller and Muslims] Schuller boasted to Billy Graham that "thousands of pastors and hundreds of rabbis and ... over a million Muslims a week" watch his Hour of Power television program. Schuller, whose Crystal Cathedral houses offices for "Christians and Muslims for Peace," told Imam Alfred Mohammed of the Muslim American Society that "if he [Schuller] came back in 100 years and found his descendants Muslims, it wouldn't bother him. ..." Apparently, Schuller is unconcerned that Islam denies that Jesus is God and that He died for our sins (someone else died on the Cross in His place), offers a gospel of good works for salvation, and death in jihad as the only sure way to the Muslim's "heaven," where the faithful are rewarded with rivers of wine (which they are not permitted on earth) and harems of beautiful virgins. (Source: 5/98, TBC.) ["Muslims for Peace" is quite a misnomer considering Muslims lay claim to their "peace" when they earn "points" on their eternal scorecards for killing Jews and Christians.]

Over 100 churches, led by Schuller, banded together in 1992 to form Churches United in Global Missions (CUGM), "seeking to address the needs of humanity and our environment." It is currently made up primarily of mega-church pastors, but membership is open to any size church which can pay the annual dues of $1,000.

"The aim is to lure baby boomers back to church by welcoming all comers regardless of their beliefs and appealing to their lack of theological convictions." Thus far we are unaware of any Catholic or Orthodox members in CUGM, but CUGM's declaration affirms that it seeks "a spirit of unity that is truly Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Evangelical, and Charismatic." The CUGM network does include charismatic, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Methodist churches. (Originally reported in the 5/1/92, Calvary Contender.)

[Schuller and the Institute for Successful Church Leadership] Since 1970, Schuller has operated theRobert Schuller Institute for Successful Church Leadership, with more than 20,000 church leaders having attended. One previous attendee testifies that:

"The institute is a place where you have an encounter with God, where God gives the instructions, where lives are transformed and you leave with a lift" (magazine advertisement for the 1/93 seminar).

More than eighty homosexual and lesbian pastors and lay leaders from the Metropolitan Community Churches participated in 1997's Institute. (Source: Record, Spring 1997). The January 25-28, 1999 meeting features "Father" Hank Albietz as a workshop speaker. In reply to a query to the Crystal Cathedral, Holly Lovas wrote:

"Father Hank is a Roman Catholic priest from St. Patrick Church, Bellefontaine, OH. ... We are lucky to have him speak this year on goal setting in the ministry." (Source: 11/15/98, Calvary Contender.)

In the 7/93 Charisma, Argentine preacher Juan Carlos Ortiz said Schuller asked him in 1990 to start a Hispanic congregation from Schuller's Crystal Cathedral. Ortiz was a prominent charismatic movement leader in the 1970s, and has insisted on associating with Catholics and mainline Protestants. At the Crystal Cathedral, Ortiz still courts Catholics, lays hands on parishioners to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and says some speak in tongues. He says Schuller respects people's self-esteem, and "doesn't scold them from the pulpit by saying they are sinners" (7/15/93, Calvary Contender).

Despite Schuller's unbiblical, heretical, and often blasphemous message, Schuller's 1000th Anniversary television show (The Hour of Power, aired on April 2, 1989), presented film clip testimonies from seventeen of Schuller's fans, including:

Norman Vincent Peale, Mother Teresa, and Coretta Scott King ("three spiritual greats") (Schuller's son said of Peale, he was "responsible for dad's possibility thinking.")

Schuller spent a considerable amount of time praising Billy Graham and Norman Vincent Peale [See Above](Positive Mental Attitude), and stated his "indebtedness to our brothers and sisters of Roman Catholic faith in the great family of believers." (He also billed his ministry as, "the only worldwide telecast of a Protestant and ecumenical ministry.") Schuller offered a gift premium,

"to keep you believing in the Great Believer, Who believes in us ... believe in the God Who believes in you ... Be a believer in belief and believe in the Great Believer. Someday you'll be in heaven because you believed in the Great Believer."

Schuller also changed the words to "Rise Up Great Men of God," in order to proclaim his self-love message, and closed the show by singing "Dream the Impossible Dream."

[In a later interview with USA Today, Schuller was asked about the fact that Sammy Davis was Jewish. Schuller said,

"That's what sets me apart from fundamentalists who are trying to convert everybody to believe how they believe. My role is as a churchman. ... We know the things the major faiths can agree on. We try to focus on those without offending those with different viewpoints, or without compromising the integrity of my own Christian commitment" (6/89, Chalcedon Report).]

[Schuller and Larry King] - On 1/28/94, Schuller appeared on Larry King Live to promote his new book, Achieve Your True Potential Through Power Thinking or Power Thoughts. Schuller said:

"Forty years ago in 1953, the seminal book was published, The Power of Positive Thinking. Twenty years later, a book was published, Move Ahead with Possibility Thinking, and now 20 years later in 1993, there's a book Achieve Your True Potential Through Power Thinking or Power Thoughts. So it's from positive thinking to possibility thinking, to power thinking, and each is a level. ... Positive thinking says, 'Hey. I am somebody. I can do it.' Possibility thinking picks up on it and says, 'Okay, how is it possible and how can we make it possible,' and power thinking says, 'Okay. I am. I can. It's possible. Okay, let's you and me do it. Let's just make it happen.'... I sum up this in a sentence. Faith plus focus plus follow through equals achievement, and many people fail because they just don't have the faith in themselves, and others have the faith in themselves, but they don't focus.

"... chapter three is the process of power thinking, seven levels to the process of thinking power thoughts. First level is potentialize, second level is prioritize, the third is possibilitize ... you know, my first studies were all of psychology. ... I'm not the first to say this, 'if you can believe it, you can achieve it.' But what I am saying in this book, a line that I had never used before ...'You're not free -- I'm not free until I believe in me.' ... I picked up my pen and wrote a quote: 'In the beginning' ... Ideas generate energy. Once there was a power thought, and we are designed by the Creator, the Power Thinker of all, we are designed to be power thought processors to receive power thoughts, catalogue, compute them, evaluate them, reject them or accept and generate other power thoughts. It's very exciting. ... the secret of conquering the invasion of negative thoughts is to keep your mind focused actively on your dream, ...You know, this book, Larry, I think if it can be grasped and communicated, is the answer to the violence that we face today. ...

"Back to self esteem. The first person ever to write a textbook of self-esteem theology. This came out of my studies with Victor Frankl. [Frankl was an unbelieving Jewish psychiatrist who developed a psychotherapeutic type of "treatment" called logotherapy. Frankl placed much emphasis on man's search for "meaning."] We're going back 22 years ago, and I asked Victor Frankl, 'Put it to me in a nutshell. What is the single heart of a person that makes him a human being?' 'Well' he said, 'Freud said it's will to pleasure. Adler said it's will to power. I say it's will to meaning ... one thing no one can ever take from me and that's my ultimate freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me.' That, I think, is part of the greatest sentence spoken by a living human being in this century."

- A recent interview on CNN's "Larry King Live" television broadcast once again reveals just how far Schuller has fallen from the orthodox teaching of Scripture. The 12/19/98 broadcast of "Larry King Live Weekend" featured a panel of United States senators who discussed the implications of the House of Representatives' impeachment vote against President Clinton. Toward the end of the broadcast, King interviewed Robert Schuller, asking him if this was a time for national prayer (italics added):

SCHULLER: You know, it surely is. I think it's probably providential that this comes at just the day before Larry King is going to be Robert Schuller's guest and you will offer your first public prayer in the Crystal Cathedral.

KING: What does the nation do with something like this? What would you say to people? It's a sad day.

SCHULLER: It's a sad day, and people are hurting, and they're hurting on all sides. What does this mean? A hurt internally is an indication that we have spiritual needs that we're not totally personally adequate to handle all alone, which means we all need God. We have to find God in our own way, God lives in people.

KING: But Democrats say they believe in God and Republicans say they believe in God ... and they're angry, and people are being hurt and we're meddling into lives.

SCHULLER: Which means we need -- we need Ramadan. We need Christmas. We need Hanukkah. This is the time of the year when all human beings should realize, leave us alone into our whims and fantasies and prejudices and hatreds and insecurities and fears and prejudices and we can be very mean people. People can be real mean. This is the time to come clean and be kind and civil.

King proceeded to ask Schuller what advice he would give to the Democratic Senators and others who are angry about the impeachment of President Clinton:

SCHULLER: I'd say to them, go to your knees and try prayer. I think that when Larry King writes a book called Powerful Prayers, as you did -- and I'm so proud to have my name as a foreword to it. When you call people to look at prayer, that's what we need -- in your own way.

The idea that people need to "find God in their own way" because "God lives in people" is completely contrary to Scripture. Schuller's universalistic theology, while popular today among the majority of liberal churches and even many so-called evangelical churches, is an abomination to God and is a false gospel. The Word of God teaches that all men are sinners and in rebellion against God, and that Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth, and the life." It is also sad that Schuller promotes King's latest book on prayer, for the ["Jewish"] King is a self-professed agnostic. (Excerpted and/or adapted from the Jan-Feb 1999, Foundation.)

Schuller has no problem roughing up a flight attendant when things don't go his way. According to an Associated Press story, Schuller "roughed up" a United Airlines flight attendant after he refused to hang up Schuller's garment bag and then later refused to serve him fruit without cheese. Schuller reportedly stood up and grabbed and shook the attendant by the shoulders. Schuller was traveling to New York City, on the June 28, 1997 cross-country flight, to speak at the memorial service of Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X. Schuller denied assaulting the flight attendant, but admitted that he might have touched him. An airline representative said Schuller "made physical contact with the flight attendant and the flight attendant was injured." The attendant went on medical leave following the episode, claiming physical pain consistent with whiplash. Schuller indicated that he was making attempts for reconciliation with the man. In August of 1997, Schuller pleaded not guilty to a count of misdemeanor assault, but then read an apology in court and agreed to pay an $1,100 fine and undergo a six-month diversion program.

Perhaps the most incredible aspect of the incident was Schuller's declaration of moral innocence -- "I'm very proud of who I am. I am innocent. I have not broken a single one of the Ten Commandments. I have not broken any of the teachings of Jesus Christ, and so I'm proud of my faith and message," Schuller said at a July 1 news conference after the incident. (Source: 4Q 1997, PFO The Quarterly Journal.)

[Schuller and The Promise Keepers] Promise Keepers is the gigantic new (1991) "men's movement" among professing evangelical Christians. Its roots are Catholic and charismatic to the core. PK's contradictory stand on homosexuality; its promotion of secular psychology; its unscriptural feminizing of men; its depiction of Jesus as a "phallic messiah" tempted to perform homosexual acts; and its ecumenical and unbiblical teachings should dissuade any true Christian from participating. Promise Keepers is proving to be one of the most ungodly and misleading movements in the annals of Christian history. Nonetheless, Robert Schuller is a promoter of PK as evidenced by his hosting local PK men's conferences in his church.

People, people, everywhere, Each a jewel, fair and rare. Wake up world! Lost in fear! Jesus calls to hope and cheer. People, people, round the earth, Hunger for a deep self-worth. See the cross, the Holy Sign, Shape your life by this design. People, people, will you dare, Venture forth in noble prayer? Claim your heritage divine, Born to be a star to shine. Christ my Savior, help me see, This grand possibility. Saved from sin's indignity, Saved to love eternally.

[Robert Schuller and Salvation]

Schuller says:

"Is there any possibility of a person being, quote--saved --unquote, without accepting Jesus Christ in a way evangelicals preach it today? My answer is, I don't know. That's the honest to God truth. But I believe in the sovereignty of God and the sovereignty of Jesus Christ. I hope so. Is it possible to be saved without making public repentance? I think so. On the cross, Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.' He didn't say, 'Father, forgive them because they repented.' Jesus has a different theology of salvation than most preachers." (from O' Timothy .)

"It is important to remember that meditation in any form is the harnessing, by human means, of God's divine laws.... We are endowed with a great many powers and forces that we do not yet fully understand.( He believes these are valid methods for "the harnessing, by human means, of God's divine laws. ..."

“A variety of approaches to meditation . . . is employed by many different religions as well as by various non religious mind-control systems. In all forms . . . TM, Zen Buddhism, or Yoga . . . the meditator endeavors to overcome the conscious mind ...”

The most effective mantras employ the "M" sound. You can get the feel of it by repeating the words, "I am, I am," many times over.... Transcendental Meditation or TM... is not a religion nor is it necessarily anti-Christian.” (Peace of Mind Through Possibility Thinking, 1977 pp. 131-32)

Given a standing ovation, Dr. Robert Schuller brought his message of self-esteem Christianity to the platform of the 61st Annual Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). He declared, "There are some things in the Bible I cannot swallow but you get saved not by the Book but the blood. Keep your message positive. Understand God is a God of grace and glory so forget the matter of justice."

Schuller continued, "Repentance is not a healthy response. Repentance is really defined when someone says, 'I want to live the dream you have, Lord.' Intelligent people do not understand the fear of God. Grace has been missed in Fundamentalism. Remember Jesus invested His stock in the Roman Catholic Church for at least 1,000 years prior to the Reformation. Now we need a new reformation with this message that God loves you and so do I… This apostate speaker, coming to speak at an NAE Convention marked new territory for this inclusive organization. The fact that so many evangelical leaders would treat Schuller as a brother in Christ is clear evidence of their spiritual blindness.

It was interesting to observe that not everyone in attendance accepted Schuller's message of self-esteem. The CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), who was a guest of NAE, told this reporter, "The NAE in having Schuller in to speak was a serious mistake. We do away with sin, according to Schuller, and embrace self-esteem."

Schuller also reminded the NAE that he and Billy Graham are friends. He said he has 10 million listeners to his program and related he was even invited to bring his message of self-esteem to a Muslim group of 15,000 at a mosque. He said, "Salvation is to become the person God wants you to be here and now." " [33].

Christianity Today Says Schuller Not A Heretic [David Cloud. Evangelicals And Modernist Robert Schuller. Way of Life Literature].

“Two years after Schuller published Self-Esteem:The New Reformation, Christianity Today editors examined Schuller's theology, and, amazingly, concluded that he is not a heretic. Consider an excerpt from an August 10, 1984, Christianity Today article by Kenneth Kantzer and Paul Fromer:

“He believes all the 'fundamental' doctrines of traditional fundamentalism. He adheres to every line of the Apostles' Creed with a tenacity born of deep conviction. ... he avowed belief in a literal hell. He was not sure about its location, and the fire is to be understood figuratively...”

This is remarkable. Sure, when Robert Schuller is questioned about his theology, he says he believes the fundamental doctrines of the Faith. Most Modernists do. What he will not admit is that he redefines the terminology of the Faith so as to produce an entirely different, and false, theology. We have seen this from his own pen. We do not need a personal interview to clarify the man's blatant apostasy!

Schuller says he believes in salvation by grace, but what he actually believes is that salvation is being rescued from poor self-esteem. He says he believes in Hell; but his hell is the loss of self-esteem, not a place of fiery eternal torment. He says he believes in sin; but sin is not willful rebellion against God and His law, but the loss of self-esteem. He says he believes in Jesus Christ; but his positive-only, “Self-Esteem Incarnate” Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible. [See Sin]

Schuller says he believes everything in the Bible. That is not true. What he believes about the Bible is actually a redefined, twisted view of it. His repentance is not Bible repentance; his new birth is not Bible regeneration; his Hell, his Heaven, his Jesus, cross, his salvation is not that of the Bible. The man is an arch-heretic, a blasphemer. He has never retracted or repented of the views promoted in his book Self-Esteem.

The watchdogs at Christianity Today are blind and dumb”.

Schuller’s book Self-Esteem: The New Reformation was published in 1982, and contained the following gems (among many others): All Emphasis Added.

“What do I mean by sin? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of his children of their right to divine dignity. ... I can offer still another answer: 'sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem’” (p. 14).

"I contend that his unfulfilled need for self-esteem underlies every act ...over and over again that the core of man's sin is not his depravity but a "lack of self-dignity", Self-esteem is ... the single greatest need facing the human race today." (p. 15)

"If the gospel of Jesus Christ can be proclaimed as a theology of self-esteem, imagine the health this could generate in society!" (Self-Esteem, the New Reformation Word Books, 1982 p. 47)

“We are born to soar. We are children of God. ... the fatherhood of god offers a deep spiritual cure for the inferiority complex and lays the firm foundation for a solid spiritual self-esteem” (p. 60).

“Classical theology defines sin as 'rebellion against god.' The answer is not incorrect as much as it is shallow and insulting to the human being. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity even if he or she is a 'rebellious sinner” (p. 65).

“Any analysis of 'sin' or 'evil' or 'demonic influence' or 'negative thinking' or 'systemic evil' or 'antisocial behavior' that fails to see the lack of self-dignity as the core of the problem will prove to be too shallow. … to be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image--from inferiority to self-esteem, from fear to love, from doubt to trust” (p. 68).

"I may not deserve it [salvation] but I am worth it so don't say that I am unworthy" (p. 74).

" And I can feel the self-esteem rising all around me and within me, 'Rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me' (John 7:38). I'll really feel good about myself" (p. 80).

"The most serious sin is the one that causes me to say, 'I am unworthy. I may have no claim to divine sonship if you examine me at my worst.'" "For once a person believes he is an 'unworthy sinner,' it is doubtful if he can really honestly accept the saving grace God offers in Jesus Christ." ( p. 98)

“Historical theology has too often failed to interpret repentance as a positive creative force. ... essentially, if Christianity is to succeed in the next millennium, it must cease to be a negative religion and must become positive” (p. 104).

“The classical error of historical Christianity is that we have never started with the value of the person. Rather, we have started from the 'unworthiness of the sinner,' and that starting point has set the stage for the glorification of human shame in Christian theology” (p. 162).

Yet Schuller continued to be accepted as a genuine Christian leader by evangelical leaders…some even AFTER this book was published..

Schuller and Evangelical Leaders Consider a brief survey of other evangelical leaders who accept Schuller as a genuine brother in Christ [David Cloud. Evangelicals And Modernist Robert Schuller. Way of Life Literature].

Billy Graham has frequently appeared with and praised Schuller. In 1983, Schuller sat in the front row of distinguished guests invited to honor Graham's 65th birthday. In 1986 Schuller was invited by Graham to speak at the International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists in Amsterdam. Other featured speakers included many of today's most prominent evangelical leaders, including Bill Bright, Leighton Ford, and Luis Palau. Schuller was featured on the platform of Graham's Atlanta Crusade in 1994.

Southern Baptist leader W.A. Criswell endorsed Schuller's ministry in 1981 in an ad in Christianity Today’s Leadership magazine. He said, “I know Dr. Schuller personally. He's my good friend. I've spoken on his platform. I'm well acquainted with his ministry. If you want to develop fruitful evangelism in your church; if you want your laity to experience positive motivation and ministry fulfilling training, then I know, without a doubt, that you will greatly benefit from the Robert Schuller Film Workshop.” A year prior to that, Criswell also endorsed a book by Schuller's mentor, self-esteem theologian Norman Vincent Peale.

On April 29, 1980, Robert Schuller appeared with popular evangelical and charismatic leaders Bill Bright, D. James Kennedy, James Robison, Jim Bakker, Rex Humbard, Pat Robertson, Pat Boone, Nicky Cruz, David du Plessis, Demos Shakarian, and Thomas Zimmerman (Assemblies of God) at the Washington for Jesus Rally. Joining them was independent Baptist pastor Jerry Falwell.

Popular author and teacher R.C. Sproul, president of Ligonier Ministries, has spoken at Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral on numerous occasions. He spoke at Schuller's church in September 21, 1984, then at John MacArthur's church three days later. Again Sproul spoke at Schuller's church in October 26, 1986, and then at MacArthur's church on October 29. This reveals the importance of practicing biblical separation. To our knowledge, John MacArthur has not personally promoted Schuller, but he has men in to speak at his church who are so spiritually blind that they work hand-in-hand with a heretic like Robert Schuller. This is a great confusion. Some would label this “second degree separation,” but that is nonsense. To separate from a man such as Sproul who is disobeying the clear commands of the Word of God to mark and avoid false teaching is not some kind of secondary separation. It is wisdom and it is obedience.

At the end of Paul's second epistle to the Thessalonians he warns:

“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thess. 3:14). The immediate context deals with those who refuse to work, but the general application is to everything which was taught in the epistle, and in other epistles as well. If we are to separate ourselves from a Christian brother who refuses to work, how much more must we separate from one who muddies the Gospel by fellowshipping with modernistic heretics and Romanists, etc.?

In October 1986 Schuller was on the council to host the Fourth Triennial Convention of the Asia Missions Association. Other men involved in this were evangelical leaders Donald McGavran, Ralph Winter, David Howard, Dale Kietzman of the World Literature Crusade, Edward Dayton of World Vision, Peter Deyneka of the Slavic Gospel Mission, Jack Frizen of the IFMA, and Wade Coggins of the EFMA.

In 1987 a survey was conducted by the National Association of Christian Psychotherapists and Counselors as to which television ministry is “the most effective in applying biblical principles to people's problems.” Robert Schuller's Hour of Power came out on top. James Dobson, president of the organization, commented: “He's not dogmatic. His message is clear and deals mainly with cognitive reconditioning. Yet he uses the Bible as his source. He comes across more as a therapist then a minister, yet his message is still very Christian in nature.” Dobson has used Schuller's endorsements in his ads (Calvary Contender, August 15, 1987).

A wide range of evangelical leaders joined hands with Robert Schuller and other heretics at the Congress '88, August 4-7, 1988, in Chicago. Allegedly a congress on evangelism, it was actually a congress on ecumenical compromise and end-times apostasy. Catholic priest Alvin Illig was one of the leaders and the opening address was brought by the Catholic Archbishop of Chicago, Joseph Bernardin. At the piano for the opening night services was Larry Shakley, minister of music at Willow Creek Community Church and band director for Moody Bible Institute's Friday Night Sing. Speakers included Charles Colson, Bill Bright, Jack Wyrtzen, Jay Kessler, and Southern Baptist Robert Hamblin. Representatives from the Navigators, Jews for Jesus, Pioneer Clubs, Moody Monthly magazine, and General Baptists delivered workshops.

In August 1991, World Vision co-sponsored an Interfaith Rally in St. Louis, Missouri, which was addressed by Robert Schuller.

Tony Campolo has frequently recommended Robert Schuller and has spoken with him on various platforms. In his book Partly Right, Campolo said: “Schuller affirms our divinity, yet does not deny our humanity ... isn't that what the gospel is? Isn't God's message to sinful humanity that He sees in each of us a divine nature of such worth that He sacrificed His own Son.”

Christianity Today, which should be titled New Evangelicalism Today, has frequently carried advertisements promoting Robert Schuller. Each year CT publishes ads for Schuller's Institute for Successful Church Leadership. This is one more evidence that popular evangelicalism today is not concerned about the truth. Doctrine is merely a game with these men. They will debate doctrine, but they will not separate on the basis of doctrine and they will not mark the heretics who promote false doctrine.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship president Stephen Hayner joined Schuller in January 1994, to participate in the Schuller Institute for Successful Church Leadership.

In February 1996, Robert Schuller was featured at Jerusalem Celebration 2000. Joining him for this meeting was Paul Yonggi Cho, Jack Hayford, C. Peter Wagner, among others.

In September 1996, Beverly LaHaye and Ralph Reed joined Robert Schuller for a Christian Coalition conference in Washington D.C., sponsored by cult-leader “Rev.” Sun Myung Moon.

Many of the Promise Keepers speakers and leaders are connected with Schuller. For example, John Maxwell, Jack Hayford, and Randy Phillips were among the keynote speakers at the Men's Conference '95 (March 2-4, 1995) held at Schuller's Crystal Cathedral. Schuller also spoke at the conference.

Bill Hybels of the Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago credits Schuller as an inspiration for his work, has promoted Schuller in various ads in Christianity Today, and is a frequent speaker at meetings organized by Schuller. For example, in 1996 Hybels was on the staff of Schuller's annual Institute for Successful Church Leadership. Hybels is one of the chief promoters of churches which cater to the desires of the people. He started his church by taking a survey of the community and building a “church” which would satisfy what the people wanted in a church. A Chicago sociologist said Hybels preaches a very upbeat message--”a salvationist message, but the idea is not so much being saved from the fires of hell. Rather, it's being saved from meaninglessness and aimlessness in this life. It's more of a soft-sell.” Hybels' church does not have conventional worship. It has no altar, no choir, organ, hymnals, or song books. Its music ranges from rock to jazz to country to classical. It is no wonder that Hybels would love Robert Schuller and his self-esteem message. The stranger fact is that Hybels is frequently recommended by and speaks with those who claim to be Bible based. He spoke at Dallas Seminary's 1989 Pastors Conference, for example. Hybels has also spoken at Moody Bible Institute's Founder's Week and has taught his philosophy of church growth as a faculty member of MBI's graduate school.

Schuller received a standing ovation at the March 2004 annual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Rick Warren of Purpose Driven fame has been deeply influenced by Schuller. In his last year at seminary, Warren attended Schuller’s Institute for Church Growth, and was “won over.” His wife, Kay, said, “He had a profound influence on Rick. We were captivated by his positive appeal to nonbelievers. I never looked back” (34). Warren has also spoken at Schuller’s conferences. He spoke at the Schuller Institute for Successful Church Leadership in 1997. And Schuller endorsed Warren’s Purpose Drive Church, saying, “I'm praying that every pastor will read this book, believe it, be prepared to stand corrected by it, and change to match its sound, scriptural wisdom. Rick Warren is the one all of us should listen to and learn from.”

On April 18, 2004, Ravi Zacharias appeared on Robert Schuller’s Hour of Power program and did not give his listeners one word of warning about his heresies.

In January 2008, Rick Warren’s wife, Kay, and other evangelicals joined Robert Schuller and a host of heretics and unbelievers at the Rethink Conference. Other evangelicals included Jay Sekulow, Henry Cloud, John Townsend, and Lee Strobel, and Charles Colson.

The fact that so many “evangelical” leaders treat Schuller as a brother in Christ is evidence of their blindness. Christ warns us not to follow blind leaders. “And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).

According to The New York Times,

"One of the few discordant notes at the convention came from Robert Schuller, a televangelist and senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., who delivered an address gently criticizing some conservative evangelical Christians for acting as if they know the only possible route to salvation."

The paper later interviewed Schuller and quoted him as saying, "What upsets me about religious leaders of all faiths is that they talk like they know it all, and anybody who doesn't agree with them is a heretic." [Schuller. Albert Mohler]

Rethinking Robert SchullerBy Warren Smith

As a former New Age follower I could hardly believe it. On October 17, 2004, more than twenty years after his first appearance on the Hour of Power, New Age leader Gerald Jampolsky was once again Robert Schuller’s featured guest. I was not surprised on one level because I had always been aware of Schuller’s affection for New Age teachings. What did surprise me was Schuller’s willingness to still be so openly aligned with a veteran New Age leader like Jampolsky.

I was very familiar with Gerald Jampolsky. When I was exploring New Age teachings he was the first one to introduce me to the New Age Christ and to the New Age/New Gospel teachings of A Course in Miracles. Widely reputed in New Age circles to be the closest thing to a New Age bible, A Course in Miracles taught me that “there is no sin,” [35] “a slain Christ has no meaning,” [36] and “the recognition of God is the recognition of yourself.” [37]

On this Hour of Power program Schuller praised Jampolsky and recommended all of his "fabulous" [38] books—in spite of the fact that every one of them was based on the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles. He also stated that Jampolsky’s latest book, Forgiveness, was available in the Crystal Cathedral bookstore. Amazingly, Robert Schuller had begun the year as a featured speaker at the annual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals. He was now closing the year by featuring a prominent New Age leader as his special guest. As usual, no one in Christian leadership was holding him accountable, or even seemed to care. Over the years Robert Schuller had obviously done a good job of softening up the church.

Schuller’s latest move is to hold a “Rethink Conference” at his Crystal Cathedral. With an unusual mix of Christian and non-Christian speakers, the conference will take place January 17-19, 2008. He is co-hosting the conference with Emerging Church movement leader Erwin McManus. Schuller's "rethink" website states the purpose of the conference: “Our aim is to bring together a cross-section of the key leaders in today’s culture so we can grapple with what’s truly happening in our world.” [39]

Conference speaker Lee Strobel’s recent book, The Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ, purports to expose today’s deceptive false Christs, yet an in-depth discussion of the false New Age Christ is completely missing from his book. Meanwhile, apologist Strobel, a former Saddleback pastor, makes no apologies for aligning himself with New Age sympathizer Robert Schuller.

The Emerging Church also refuses to take the New Age seriously. Not surprisingly, two of its top leaders— Erwin McManus and Dan Kimball—agreed to participate in this Schuller “Rethink Conference.” The word “rethink” can be found throughout Kimball’s book The Emerging Church that was forwarded by Rick Warren and Brian McLaren. The word “rethink” can also be found throughout the books of other Emergent leaders, including Brian McLaren. So what is this “Rethink Conference” really about? What do Robert Schuller and “the forces that be” hope to accomplish?

In defining the word “rethink” Webster’s states: “to think over again, with a view to changing.” From my perspective as a former New Age follower, I believe that Robert Schuller’s mission has always been to “rethink” and “change” biblical Christianity into something “new”—as in New Age/New Spirituality. There is a reason that New Age leader Neale Donald Walsch and his New Age “God” refer to Robert Schuller as an “extraordinary minister.” [40] There is a reason that Gerald Jampolsky and so many other New Age leaders go out of their way to praise Schuller. They know that Robert Schuller has always been open to spiritual compromise.

In fact, in his latest book, Don’t Throw Away Tomorrow: Living God’s Dream for Your Life, Schuller eagerly writes about the virtue of compromise. In this book, that bears New Age leader Gerald Jampolsky’s endorsement on the back cover, Schuller states,

“We need to learn the healing quality of wise compromise.” [41]

He further states,

“Perhaps the only way to deal with contradictions is to combine them creatively and produce something new. That’s ingenious compromise.” [42]

Whether Schuller knows it or not, he just presented the recipe for a New World Religion.

In Don’t Throw Away Tomorrow: Living God’s Dream for Your Life, Schuller uses the term “God’s Dream” in the subtitle and within the book. He used the term “God’s Dream” heavily in his 1982 book Self-Esteem: The New Reformation. Saddleback pastor Rick Warren used the Schuller term “God’s Dream” to introduce his widely publicized global “P.E.A.C.E. Plan.” He described his peace plan as “God’s Dream for you—and the world.” [43] Brian McLaren, Bruce Wilkinson, Joel Osteen, Erwin McManus and a host of other Christian leaders also use the Schuller term “God’s Dream.” Why?

Although “God’s Dream” is a Schulleresque term with no biblical foundation, it has become part of the vocabulary of the church’s new emerging purpose-driven mindset. It is interesting that Rick Warren uses the Schuller term “God’s Dream” to describe his peace plan. Is “God’s Dream” suddenly becoming the metaphor for world peace? Will we be asked to “rethink” and “compromise” our faith for the good of the world? Will we be asked to “rethink” and “compromise” our faith to attain the world peace that is “God’s Dream?” Is this Schuller-inspired conference designed to initiate this kind of “rethink” and “compromise” process? So what are we expected to “rethink”? What must we ultimately “compromise”? The answer lies within the New Age itself.

The New Age also has a “peace plan” and they are also calling for conferences like these. They insist that world peace will only occur when Christians abandon their “exclusive” and “divisive” relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. [44] Neale Donald Walsch, speaking for his New Age “God,” unequivocally states that “the era of the Single Savior is over.” [45] Yet at the same time, Walsch’s “God” suggests that Robert Schuller could be instrumental in providing a bridge from the church to the peace and oneness of a New Spirituality. [46] Is this New Spirituality where Robert Schuller and these kinds of conferences are ultimately headed? Time will tell. It is important to note that Neale Donald Walsch is not some obscure New Age leader. He is a bestselling author and highly regarded by his New Age peers. Just ask Gerald Jampolsky. It was Walsch who wrote the introduction to Forgiveness— the book that was so highly recommended by Robert Schuller on that 2004 Hour of Power program with Jampolsky.

In Revelation 2:2, Jesus Christ commends the church of Ephesus for exposing false teachers and driving them out of the church. Men like Robert Schuller wouldn’t have lasted five minutes in Ephesus. And neither would those who continue to stand alongside Schuller giving him undeserved influence and credibility. The church does not need to “rethink” and “compromise” its God-given biblical doctrines to accommodate the world. It needs to rethink its willingness to follow worldly leaders like Robert Schuller.

Rethink Conference“The church does not need to ‘rethink’ and ‘compromise’ its God-given biblical doctrines to accommodate the world,” ..It needs to rethink its willingness to follow worldly leaders like Robert Schuller.” [Warren Smith]

Robert Schuller’s Rethink Conference 2008 is over.. for the time being. With a second conference scheduled for early 2009, Schuller is far from done and, if nothing changes, will eventually go down kicking and screaming.. having, over a long and disgraceful career as a so called Christian minister, done more than his share to merge dangerous New Age and occult concepts into the church..

On December 26 2007, Christian Newswire said [All Emphasis Added]

“Embracing the cutting-edge influence of African-American pastors, leaders, thinkers and entertainers, Church Communication Network (CCN) and Crystal Cathedral founding pastor Dr. Robert H. Schuller are hosting an unprecedented convergence scheduled for January 17-19, 2008, at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, which will also be simulcast live via satellite to host sites in cities across North America.

The Rethink Conference will be co-hosted by Dr. Robert H. Schuller and cultural architect Erwin Mc Manus, pastor of Mosaic Church in Los Angeles. Other speakers will include Bishop Charles Blake, Dr. Ben Carson, Olympian gold medalist and entrepreneur George Foreman, former NFL star Miles McPherson, entertainer and humanitarian Ben Vereen, as well as world leader and former US President George H. W. Bush, justice reformer Chuck Colson, broadcaster and author Larry King, atheist turned apologist Lee Strobel, children and women’s advocate Kay Warren, and others….

It is no surprise to hear of Jon Gordon’s involvement at the 2008 re-think Conference. After all, his “positive spirit and simple, transformative message” is right up Schuller’s alley.. The short bio on his site tells us where his books have been featured and which of our august institutions he holds degrees from, but it says absolutely nothing about Christianity. Zip! Nada! A message entitled Too Blessed to Be Stressed, is about the “Disney Test”. While his Top 5 Thoughts contain such gems as You Catch More Fish Being Positive and A Lemonade Stand Can Tell You A Lot About the Economy.

.. A special feature of the conference will be the Rethink Tanks, where prominent thought leaders become thought partners. Registrants will take what they’ve heard and talk about it in breakout sessions led by presenters and other facilitators. They’ll wrestle with it, dialogue about it, agree or disagree with it-then take it a step further and make it their own.

Each speaker will give attendees a tool, a technique, or an idea…a rare opportunity to get inside the minds of some of today’s top thinkers and innovators. What have they been thinking about in the last year? What keeps them up at night? What new ideas are they grappling with? What are they rethinking?

Miles McPherson, motivational speaker and pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego asks, “The Rethink Conference will be popping with bright ideas from today’s top leaders. It’s an opportunity for you to jump start your life with fresh advice and a true perspective from thinkers that have already done what you’re trying to do-succeed.” [Christian Newswire as quoted in Rethink Conference Tries To Generate a Buzz. Slice of Laodicea]

The Rethink 2008 website said Rethink was [All Emphasis Added]

“new perspectives from global influencers”

And

“Rethink is a convergence of thinkers, innovators and leaders from the Christian and global arenas.

[The word “convergence” is one of the newer and buzz words in our Post-Modern world, used in Technology, Religion, Materialist Science. Geo-Politics, commerce etc etc]

We’re purposely gathering a group of speakers you wouldn’t necessarily expect to hear at a Christian conference. Our aim is to be immersed in the latest thoughts and perspectives of these respected cultural icons to tap into what’s happening in our world today and to grapple with how we respond. What have these top influencers been thinking about in the last year? What keeps them up at night? What are they rethinking? And how does it all apply to you – your work, your ministry, your life? Find out at Rethink.”

And, of course, the conference has drawn a good measure of flak from some Christians, who believe it is redefining the very Gospel. This criticism was supposedly answered by one of Rethink's speakers, H.B. London a Vice President at Focus on the Family, who said that …

"The goal is not to "rethink" the message of the gospel, but to "rethink" the methods we use to communicate the gospel in a constantly changing world."

However enlisting people like Larry King and Rupert Murdoch at any conference that has anything at all to do with the Gospel (Not that this one does) is more than ludicrous. Imagine the early Christians enlisting the Pharisees to help them spread the salvation message..

Hey guys! Do you think we should have our Pentecost in the traditional ‘Upper Room’ or should we just go down to one of the many fields… do you think speaking in many languages will spook the crowd or should we just use a translator. Help us out here.. after all you guys are the experts.

Actually I think consulting the Pharisees might have worked slightly better than enlisting Murdoch and King. These men are not believers and have NO PART in anything the church does. God Himself has already provided ALL the how-to’s we need, yet over and over again, we go down to Egypt for help.

“It is more of a cultural thinking ahead in general type of a one from a wide variety of people looking at the world from different perspectives”.

While knowing something (or a great deal) about how the other person views the world, one also has to bear in mind that the non-Christian perspective of this world is usually wrong. The non Christian, regardless of how informed or intelligent, looks at the world through human eyes. Christians are supposed to know what God’s opinions are and hence, look through God’s eyes.. in a manner of speaking. The two views are usually diametrically opposed.

But then again.. on second thought, the level of ‘Christianity’ at these conferences is so low that one would have to search under the tables to a few odd specks…. so it probably doesn’t make much difference. What comes out of the mouths of Schuller, Dan Kimball and McManus is not a hair’s breadth better than Larry King pontificating on this and that.

So borrowing from Jon Gordon’s idea that A Lemonade Stand Can Tell You A Lot About the Economy, we will use A Lemonade Stand to tell us about the state of Christianity… the lemons have been squeezed out but the juice has been poured out on the ground, the sugar has developed weevils, and the ice has melted. There may be a few drops of good lemonade left in the pitcher, but only a very few.

Over the 30 years I have traveled the road of life as a born-again, Bible-believing Christian, I have experienced a number of significant events that have provided inspiration and direction for the ministry God has given me. The Rethink Conference held at Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral, January 17-19, 2008 can now be listed as one of those watershed events.

While I was not able to attend the entire conference because of a missionary trip scheduled to the Philippines, the opening day of Rethink: new perspectives from global influences provided ample evidence to evaluate the significance of the event. For nearly two thousand years, most professing Christians have seen the Bible as the foundation for the Christian faith. The overall view at the Rethink Conference, however, is that Christianity, as we have known it, has run its course and must be replaced. [Emphasis Added]

Co-hosted by Erwin Mc Manus and Robert Schuller, the conference declared that a paradigm shift is now underway. Speakers insisted that Christianity must be re-thought and re-invented if the name of Jesus Christ is going to survive here on planet earth now that we are in the twenty-first century.

The Observable EvidenceWith the risk of being labeled a negative divisive critic who is against everything, I am compelled to tell you what I witnessed at this conference. This commentary will paraphrase the actual statements made by the speakers as I took extensive notes.

The conference opened with an on-stage dialogue between Schuller and Erwin Mc Manus. Schuller gave a brief overview of his accomplishments through his many years of ministry. He explained how pleased he was to be able to look back at the tremendous leaders he had mentored over the years, which include Willow Creek’s seeker-friendly pioneer pastor Bill Hybels, the six million member Church of God in Christ’s Bishop Charles Blake, and Rick Warren who has pioneered the purpose driven church and the purpose driven life.

While Schuller said he was very pleased with all the great accomplishments of the past, his vision to impact the world in the future is even bigger and better. He told the audience that even though he is now over 80 years old, he believes there is even a greater potential to succeed now at a time in his life when he is no longer subject to “temptation.”

Erwin Mc Manus, a much younger version of Robert Schuller, offered a solution to anyone in the audience that might have that problem. He mentioned there were “pills” available on the market to curb “temptation.” Schuller quickly retorted that he knew there were other pills available for those who were supposedly over the hill.

While some of the people sitting around me were noticeably bothered by such out-of-place comments, the majority of the people in the auditorium seemed to enjoy these opening remarks.

Re-thinking Think TankFollowing this brief introduction by the two hosts, Bishop Blake was scheduled to speak. For reasons not announced to the attendees, Bishop Blake did not appear on the platform when his name was announced. Schuller then reappeared, joking that he was Schuller and not Bishop Blake. It was difficult to know whether this was a pre-planned moment of silliness or not.

A moment later, Mc Manus reappeared on the platform and told the audience there would be a slight change in the schedule. At this point a coat rack was brought out on the platform with three hats hanging on it. A skit was performed which involved an off-screen person asking questions of an onstage actor. I later found out the talent for this drama was provided by Mc Manus.

The drama was obviously designed to set the tone of the conference and was of professional quality. The actor played three characters who represented different well-known men throughout history. The first was Copernicus. The second was Christopher Columbus, and the third was Martin Luther. These three men were revolutionary in their thinking at that particular time in history, and each was going up stream against the mainstream of society.

The actor who played the three different characters finally appeared as himself. He announced to the audience that he was a new Christian. However, he said he had a problem with Christianity now that he was a Christian and was disgusted with how hypocritical traditional Christianity had become. He suggested that the church as we know it today needs to be re-thought.

Of course, we know the Bible teaches that the traditions of man are a hindrance to faith when they are not based on the Word of God. Jesus made it clear that when tradition supersedes the truth of the Word, it is imperative to toss away tradition and get back to the Word. The actor in the drama left the impression that Jesus was referring to our present generation when he spoke these words.

To Think or not to ThinkTo “think or not to think,” that was the question. The speakers I heard on that opening day sounded very convincing, and from reactions in the audience, their views were heartily embraced. I sensed that most there were drawing the conclusion that rethinking all they had once believed to be true was the only valid option.

Chuck Colson’s half hour talk was primarily focused on the importance of having faith based on the Scriptures. He did a commendable job talking about the authenticity of the Bible, the Trinity, salvation, sin and the need for repentance. But, just before his time was up, Colson said something I found very troubling … and confusing.

Colson indicated how very encouraged he had become on how the emerging church was “energizing” Christianity in such a positive way. I found his statement surprising, remembering an article about a year ago where Colson actually condemned the emerging church. I wondered what caused him to change his mind. He also mentioned the importance of taking our faith to the world in an effort to “establish the kingdom.”

This was very significant to me, as it is well known that Charles Colson is very sympathetic to partnering with Rome in order to establish the kingdom the Roman Catholic Church way. The Roman Catholic Church is planning to establish the kingdom of God here on earth through the Triumph of the Eucharist and the Eucharistic Reign of Jesus.

Why Did Chuck Colson Re-think the Emerging Church?Chuck Colson may have given a clue as to his change in heart regarding the emerging church. His new book The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It and Why It Matters was not supposed to have rolled off the press until February. However Colson said he was able to convince his publisher to advance the book to the fast track and speed up the printing process so the book would be available when he spoke at Saddleback earlier in the month of January.

It was not hard for me to do some simple deductions. You see, the publisher for Colson’s new book is Zondervan, owned by Rupert Murdoch (one of the presenters at the Re-think Conference). Murdoch’s company publishes many emerging books as well as purpose driven books. The fact that Murdoch’s pastor is Rick Warren of Saddleback cannot be ignored. No wonder the book by Colson was given priority.

WonderingWhile we may never know for sure, I cannot help but wonder if Chuck Colson’s new take on the emerging church has anything to do with Zondervan’s willingness to speed up the release date of the book.

Be that as it may, I am reminded of the ecumenical nature of the emerging church, which is driven by contemplative spirituality that traces back to ancient Roman Catholic mystical practices. Contemplative spirituality provides a mystical formula also known as “spiritual formation” in order to get closer to Jesus. The problem is that this state of silence achieved is similar to that which is reached through eastern meditation, and the realm reached is not the presence of God but the possible presence of demons. The Bible is very clear in its warning against practicing divination, which uses mystical methods to conjure up the spirit world. Yet, a growing number of evangelical churches are incorporating contemplative into their church body.

Also SeeContemplating The AlternativeSince it is certain that, regardless of personal belief, something does transpire during mystical experiences, the question that springs to mind is what can explain this phenomena. To say it is the Holy Spirit is just so much tosh, since there is not one, not two, but seven common themes of mysticism between Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu and American agnostic mystical experiences.

During my day at Rethink, I interviewed a number of men and women. I was often amazed at their comments. Most of them had no idea what the term emerging church meant (even though they were right smack in the center of it), and they had no idea why the conference was called “Rethink.”

When I asked them what they thought about the fact that President Bush senior (a member of a secret society), Rupert Murdoch (a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and who profits from pornographic tabloids) and Larry King (I was told Schuller has been witnessing to him and he is almost a Christian) had been enlisted to provide input to help Christians re-think, they were not able to answer why this would have been so.

Before I left the conference I had the opportunity to give Schuller’s secretary, Kym Smith, a copy of Faith Undone. While I am sure Schuller would not waste a moment on a book with such a negative title, I felt compelled to give a token of my appreciation for being allowed to attend the conference.

Incidentally, the reason I was able to attend the conference was because Schuller’s secretary gave me the opportunity to volunteer for the conference and save over $200 on the admission fee. I received a call on the 15th of January telling me that I should come in to do my volunteer work in the morning instead of the afternoon. I worked with about 10 other volunteers for approximately two hours stuffing conference bags at the Crystal Cathedral on January 16, between 9:30 and 11:30 in the morning. *(See below: "Rethinking the Rethink")

I enjoyed the time working with these other volunteers. The LORD provided an opportunity for me to be able to share with them how the Word of God is changing lives all over the world as Jesus Christ is being proclaimed as the Creator and the Redeemer.

In the future, I will write other commentaries on the Rethink Conference. For now, I am soberly reminded that faith in the Word of God is under attack. The potential for Christians to be led astray by a strong delusion as Paul warned in Second Thessalonians chapter two is not only a real possibility, it is happening right now.

I hope and pray that Erwin Mc Manus, Robert Schuller, and Chuck Colson, along with many of the other speakers will re-think the direction in which they are heading. I pray they will start proclaiming the gospel according to the Scriptures. I pray they will begin to warn about the many unbiblical ideas that are driving the unsuspecting towards an apostate church.

Finally, I pray those attending the Rethink Conference will do some rethinking themselves and consider what happens to those who will spend eternity in hell because they did not think about what the Word of God proclaims thus they rejected God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

*Rethinking the RethinkSince attending the conference, I have had time to re-think about some things myself. Should I have actually attended this conference knowing that what I would hear would be in opposition to the Word of God? Or what about the fact that I had agreed to volunteer the day before the conference for two hours in order to be able to attend the conference?

In order to answer this question, I prayed and asked the LORD for insight from His Word. I regret now that I used bad judgment by accepting the offer to be a volunteer. For those who see what I did as an act of betraying the body of Christ and a poor example for other discernment ministries, I apologize.

However, I was told by Robert Schuller’s secretary that the only way I could attend the conference was by volunteering. When I asked what it was that I had to volunteer for she told me to show up at 1 PM on the 16th of January on the third floor of the office building with the cross on the top and I would be given a job for two hours. Although even the person at the information desk indicated that in his 20 years of serving at Crystal Cathedral he had never heard of this happening before, he is my witness that this was the only way that I was permitted to attend the conference.

I recalled the time when Jesus went into the temple and confronted deception. He overthrew tables and said:

“It is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” [Matthew 21:13]

What is happening today in the name of Christianity is paralleled in history by the children of Israel who turned away from God and His Word. Jeremiah, a prophet of God, warned about the apostasy that had occurred. Unfortunately, the children of Israel refused to listen to the Word of God and continued down a pathway towards destruction.

Apparently, the Word of God means little today to those who have chosen to depart from the Word. Business management gurus who provide expertise in the area of church growth have successfully hijacking Christianity and led many sheep to market by purpose driven methods that ignore the scriptures.

Bible-believing Christians need to be aware that in the near future, it will not be popular to go against the flow. If you are not for re-thinking Christianity man’s way, you will be considered an enemy of Christ and treated accordingly.

Already there are signs that those who understand the times need to be shut up. It won’t be long that proclaiming the gospel according to the scriptures will be considered a hate crime. Until then, we will continue to inform the people what is happening. Praise the Lord. Jesus Christ is on the throne and the Bible is true.

Bill Hybels, Founding Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago, says, "I listened to Dr. Schuller's lectures about the kind of faith it takes to do something that you believe God is calling you to do. And no one will ever know, truly, the impact of Dr. Schuller on my life in those early days. He bolstered my fledgling faith and he led me to believe that a 21-year-old Dutch kid could start a church in a movie theatre and I'm grateful ever since." [47]

EndNotes

[1] www.hourofpower.ca/about.cfm

[2] www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/sch2bio-1

[3] http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/sch2bio-1

[4] Excerpted from Apologetics Index and Way of Life Literature’s Evangelical And Modernist Robert Schuller

[5] www.erwm.com/deceived_on_purpose.htm

[6] www.crystalcathedral.org/teaching/help_for_you/detail.php?id=2117

[7] A Course in Miracles: Glossed Hinduism For The Masses. Christian Research Institute. Emphasis Added